Thursday, January 26, 2012

Need a Speaker??

Are you part of a MOPs group? Women's Bible Study? Women's Minisrty? Home Makers Club?A part of a group of women??

Pass on some encouragement to your group!
If you are located Within 3 hours from Lafayette Indiana I would love to speak to your group.

Encouraging Topics for the Home Front:
* The BLESSINGS of the family meal
* Money saving on the grocery budget
* Nitty- gritty on Meal planning
* Let's get cooking! Basic, easy cooking skills.
* Cooking from the garden
* Home made bread
* Training up the next generation. Skills and recipes to teach to our children.
* Fabulous and simple deserts
* "Old-Fashioned" Kitchen Skills
* More than Survival.... the power of routines

Spiritual Topics:
Standing on God's Word through the storms
The Power of Praise
The Woman we love to hate: Proverbs 31

Let me know if any of these topics fit in with your ministry focus.
I am so passionate about the wonderful role that God has given to us as women. I believe that God has GREAT things for us and for our families when we are walking in HIS ways and not being deceived by the world. The enemy has put up a HUGE attack on the family and he is taking the family down by destroying the 'worth' of a woman. Praise God that God's word and ways stand firm forever and that our role as wife and mother is very worthy!!

Equipping women in the home and in their spiritual life is a way that God uses to strengthen and build strong families that serve Him!! No woman wants to feel like a failure in the home, but we need training!! The world is a different place than it was a few generations ago... we aren't receiving the same training and support from the older generations. We aren't being equipped with the skills and knowledge it takes to manage a home efficiently. Women's ministries have a wonderful opportunity to step in and serve women at these practical levels. I would be happy to minister to your Women's Group!!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Cooking with Venison!
We are a deer hunting family! I had NEVER eaten deer or even really known anyone that hunted till I met my hubby..... wow, has my world changed!

Anyway, cooking with venison is something that I struggled with at first..... I just couldn't get used to it and I thought it always tasted gamy..... well, not any more!!!! I learned the SECRET!

Secret to fantastic (you will never know it is venison) meat:VINEGAR!!!!!!!!!! The acid totally takes away the game flavor! Period.... no more!
When I brown ground meat I simply add it while browning (I don't measure, but about 2 TBL per pound). When I make a roast I just always add vinegar to the cooking juices and I cook it in the crock pot.

I have also started canning deer meat.... talk about NO game flavor and a jar full of yummy! I will have to post on that later!!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I just whipped up another batch of dishwasher soap this week and it got me thinking about the fact that my second all time most read post here on this blog is about the homemade liquid dishwasher soap I use. Isn't it funny what posts become the most popular?? I never would have thought dishwasher soap! LOL!

I started using homemade liquid dishwasher soap back in 2009 and I enjoy being both frugal and environmentally kind. I had used a homemade powder dishwasher soap for a long time before that. I prefer the liquid kind. We have "hard" well water and I must use a rinse aid (either vinegar or purchased kind) and I have to hand wash our drinking glasses every now and them because no matter what kind of dishwasher soap I use (home made or purchased) a film develops. This recipe is a keeper in my book, so thought I would post about it again (since it has been a while).

This batch that I made this week will last me about 4 months. Note that I marked the jug with the date... I like to keep track of usage data... it is the nerd in me! I run my dishwasher at least once a day and a few days a week it gets ran twice a day. For a cost of $3 I would say that this is very cost effective!

Directions:1) Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in washing soda, borax and liquid castile soap until dissolved.2) Stir in remaining 8 cups water and allow to cool.3) Pour cooled dishwasher soap into containers of your choice. It will "gell" up over next 24 hours.

To use:give dishwasher soap a good shake to make sure everything is mixed well and to make it easy to pour out. I only put a small amount ( approx 1 rounded TBL) in the closed soap dispenser. Experiment with the amount you will need... I have found that it takes very little of this soap. This batch will last a long time!

I hope you like it... Let me know if you try it. I enjoy making as many of our cleaning products as possible... I especially like this homemade multipurpose cleaner. My 7 year old son is the chief bathroom cleaner and he sprays down the sink with this cleaner every day.... love that I don't have to worry about my child cleaning with harsh and dangerous chemicals! Safe and effective and of course money saving! :)

****Update***** This batch I made in January lasted me SIX whole months!! I run the dishwasher at least once a day and several times a week twice. I posted about how frugal and happy I am with this Homemade Liquid Dishwasher Soap here. *****

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Baking Cookies takes soooo long! Cookie sheets in and out of the oven! Ok, also, I'm not the worlds best cookie maker..... my attention deficit issues just can't handle it! LOL! But in the spirit of CHOOSING SIMPLICITYI give my cookie loving family cookie bars. I know, not quiet the same, but better than nothing!

Last night I whipped up a batch of oatmeal cookie bars while the pizza dough was resting (15 minute quick rise). These cookie bars are easy, yummy and a *little* healthy. At least I like to pretend ... eases the guilty conscience .... that cookies with "good for you" ingredients are some how a little good for us! Surely I'm not the only one out there that does that!! :)

Here is the recipe for you.... I must be on an oatmeal kick because last night the pizza crust I made included oats and last week I made my favorite Oatmeal Spice Cake. mmmm.... I must really be feeling bad about all the chocolate we consumed over the holidays!!

Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup shortening (I use Coconut oil to replace shortening or you could use all butter)

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour (I like to use "white whole wheat")

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp salt

6 cups rolled oats

2 cups raisins or dried cranberries (optional) (I like to use a blend of the two)

Directions:

1) Blend together the butter, coconut oil (or shortening) and sugars until creamy and fluffy.

2) Mix in the eggs and vanilla

3) In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda, spices and salt. gradually mix into the creamed butter.

4) add in the oats and optional raisins.

5) Spread batter into a greased jelly roll size cookie sheet (the kind with sides) and bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes depending on how done you like your cookies. ENJOY!!

***** Just FYI..... These cookie bars freeze really well and make a great addition to packed lunches or snacks on the go. I just freeze individual bars in their own baggie for quick grab and go convenience.***

Thursday, January 19, 2012

In my relationship with Christ I have an abundant life!!Abundant in my spirit measured in my heart, not in my bank account! My God supplies all my needs and I am so thankful for that promise. I am also so very glad that my level of peace and joy does not come from the balance in my checkbook , the house I live in or the vehicle I drive. My JOY comes from the maker of Heaven and earth and I get very excited about knowing that this earth is not my home and I will spend eternity in HEAVEN!

If you don't have this peace, please find it in Jesus! Call out his name and He will be there!! He longs to draw you to His side and cover you with His grace and love. You are loved with an everlasting love. There is nothing you have ever done, or will do, that can make him love you less (or more for that matter). Today, reach out and cling to the source of abundant life!! Jesus!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Praying for my husband is one of the most powerful things I can do for him. Prayer moves mountains. With God all things are possible. The enemy does not want us to pray and will work hard to make prayer seem like it really isn't "doing anything". However, that is far, far, far from the truth. Prayers move mountains! When we pray we release God's power.

Several years ago I heard this prayer outline and I love it! After I drop off the kids at school I pray (out load..... keeps this attention deficit girl focused) on the way home. This BLESSINGS acronym has been such a helpful frame work for me. It covers so much! I encourage you to set a time each day that praying for your spouse will be come a habitual part of your daily routine. Your spouse will be BLESSED!!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Tonight we are going to meet with our monthly fellowship group. We do a pitch in dinner and tonight I am taking an Oatmeal Spice Cake with Caramel Sauce Topping and a Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake. I am making a special variation of my Oatmeal cake and mixed in apples and cranberries.... yummy!

It is an easy cake to mix up and always gets rave reviews. Here is the recipe if you ever want to whip one up!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

What to do with all those store bags?? When you forget more often than not to take the reusable cloth bags to the store like me..... but you probably always remember to grab yours!!

I use them to line our trash cans in the bathrooms so I keep a stash of them under each bathroom sink and under the kitchen sink. I have found that an empty tissue box works GREAT!! Compact storage and easy to pull one out at a time.

About Me

I want to do more than survive the stress and chaos of this world! I will live out the truth that GOD is BIGGER than anything we face here in this world!
I am wife to Chris, Mom to 3 boys and 1 daughter.
Most importantly I am a daughter of the King!
My goal is to choose a simple life and to encourage others in this adventure!